Building construction



Sept- 17. 1940 J. L. McKl-:owN 2,214,886

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Sgpt. 17. 1940. J. McKEowN UlLDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 2J.. 1958 .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 17, 19401. .L 1...y -M'cKEowN 2,214,886 BUILDING coNs'rRUcTIoN sind Fem 21, 1938 s sheets-sheet s Patented Sept.' 17,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The invention relates to improvements inv building constructions and has for its primary-` object the provision of an improved building construction ywhereby small houses may be constructed ,I

- at small cost. 1

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and I claimed.

10 The invention will be best understood by refero ence to the accompanying drawings yforming a part of this specication and in which: Fig. l -is a side view, shown partially in section, of a small house constructed in accordance with .p ill' the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse, medial section of the o same;

Fig. 3 is'a vview similar to Fig. 2 but showing a slightly modified form of construction;

Fig. 4 is a partial, longitudinal, medial section taken through one end of the house illustrated in Fig. 3; f

l Fig. 5 is an enlarged, detail view showing one of the connections between the wall and roof bents and the ridge member of the house;

Fig. 6 is a section of the modication shown in Figures 1 and 2 taken substantially on the line 6'-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig, 7 is a transverse section of the modification y shown in Figures 1 and 2 through the ridge member;

shown in Figs. 1 and 2 corresponding with Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is a transverse enlarged section of a sill 35, member employed inthe construction of Fig. 3;

Fig,10 is a section taken substantially on the Fig. 15is a horizontalsection of the construction illustrated in Fig. 14; o

Fig. 16 is a section taken substantially on the line |6-I6ofFig.15; l Fig. 1'7 is a section taken substantially on the line I1-i1 of Fig. 15; and

Fig. 18 is a section taken substantially on the line l-l of Fig. 15.

In the form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, two tubular sill members in the form of extend upwardly and inwardly as shown to meet .at the ridge of the house where they are secured Fig. 8 is a'bottom plan view of the modification pipes 20 are arranged as shown on suitable sup` ports or posts 2| to constitute the lower support.- ing sills for the side Walls of the house. Arranged on the sill members 20 are a plurality of spaced,

combined integral wall and roof bents 22 which to a' tubularridge member in the form of a pipe 23. Each of the bents 22 is provided at its bottom with lateral ilanges 24 constituting pivotal beari'o' ings-therefor -on the corresponding sill 20 so as to permit of slight free rocking -or pivotal movement thereon as best shownin Figs. 9 and 10. At their upper, inner ends, the bents 22 are loosely secured to the ridge member 23 by means of collars 25 loosely mounted on said ridge member and secured "to said bents as best shown in Figs, 5 and 6 by -means of 'bolts 26. The ridge member 23 is provided at its'center with a vertical vent or escape pipe 21 enclosed in a suitable cupola 28 as shown,

The sill member 20 and the ridge member 23 are 30' 'A also provided in their interiors with water pipes 32 and electric conduit pipes 33 secured as best indicated in Figs. 6and 7, to the interior walls thereof, and whereby the distribution of waterv and electricity through the house ,will be greatly 35 facilitated Without the necessity of makingropenings or passages through the bents 22.

A wall covering 34 is secured as shown to the outer vertical portion of .the bents 22 and the roof covering 35 is secured ,as shown to the upper portions of said 'bents to constitute the'outer sides and roof of the house. A suitable flooring 36 is also arranged as sho-wn.

The construction disclosed constitutes a simple and eicient outer walls roof and floor of a small house which may be thus built with all parts and sections fabricated to xact size in a factory and therefor put up at relat vely smallcost when desired, By the use of the tubular sill and ridge members loosely connected with the wall and roof 5b bents, a strong and rigid, substantially truss-like structure is provided in which a minimum of material may be utilized to the greatest advantage, lateral strains eliminated, and provision made for the ready accommodation and distribution ot 55 household utilities such as water andV electric light. Obviously the interior of the house thus provided may be partitioned oil and otherwise equipped as the builders thereof may desire.

In the modiiication illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 an interior wall and sill covering 31 is applied to the inner sides of the bents 22 and slabs of insulating material 38 to the inner sides of the wall and roof coverings 34 and 35, thereby enclosing spaces 39 between said bents.' Ventilating open-- ings 40 and 4I, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 9 are provided respectively in the tops and ends of the sills 20 to permit of the free entry of air from the outer atmosphere to the spaces 39. "Additional Ventilating openings 42 are provided in the inner sides of the sills 20 and are controlled byl swinging p dampers or valves 43 and whereby air from the lower portion of the interior of the house will also be freely admitted to the spaces 39 as will be readily understood.

As 'best shown in Figs. 6 and 7, Ventilating openings 44 are provided in the sides of the ridge member 23 to communicate with the spaces 39 to permit Iof the free escape of air 'from said spaces to the ridge'vmember 23. At one end the ridge member 23 is provided with an upwardly extending escape pipe 45 equipped withyan electric blower 46 and whereby a forced ventilation may be induced through the entire house, thereby readily Ventilating the same as will be readily understood.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 1l a tubular sill member 20' which is rectangular in form in the portions between the bents 22 is provided, but otherwise the construction. is the same as that already described. f

In the modicationillustrated in Fig. 12, bents 41 of structural steel construction'are shown which arrangement willbe advantageous where unusual strength is required. To add to the strength, horizontal tie rods 48 connect the sill members 20 as shown.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 13, bent members 49 of moulded concrete are illustrated for use in conjunction with a concrete iloor.

In the modication illustrated in Figs. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, a central heating furnace 50 is shown as equipped with a smoke pipe 5| -leading to a chimney 52 and an upward forced draft pipe 53 leads therefrom to the ridge member 23.

A cold air intake pipe 54 leads from the corresponding sill member 20 to the cold air intake 55 of the furnace and whereby the said'sill 4and ridge members may be utilized inv conjunction with the heating of the house as will be readily understood. In this arrangement the-said corresponding sill member will not be provided with openings 40. i Toilet facilities 56 and 51 and 58 are alsoshown as connected by pipes 59, y6|! and 5l with a sewer pipe 52 leading to the other end of the sill members 2U and whereby said sill member maybe utilized for sewage disposal. A

, sink 53 is also shown as connected by pipe 64 with the corresponding sill 20 as shown. As shown in Fig. 18 the connected end of the sill 20 is sealed y from the other end thereof by a partition and is also inclined to aiord better drainage.

While'I have illustrated and described the preferred forms of construction for carrying my in:- vention into eifect,'these are capable of variations and modifications without departingl from the spirit of the invention. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details described but desire to avail myself of such variations and modiloosely `supported on said sill members and extending to the ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge member loosely secured to said bents at the ridge of the frame; and means forv utilizing the interiors of said sill andv ridge members for Ventilating purposes. v

3. A buildingframe construction comprising two tubular sill members; vwall and roof bents loosely supported on said-sill-members and extending to the ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge memlber loosely securedto said bents at the ridge of the frame; and means for utilizing the interiors of said sill and ridge members for heating purposes.

4. A building frame construction comprising two tubular ,sill members; vwall and roof bents loosely supported on said sill membersI and ex.- tending to the ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge member loosely secured to said bents at lthe ridge of the framge; and household conduits located in said sill and ridge members.

5. A building construction comprising a tubular sill member; wall andv roof bents loosely supported on said sill member and extending to the ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge member loosely secured to said bents at the ridge of the house; wall and roof coverings .secured to said bents to enclose spaces between them, there being openings in said sill yand ridge members communicating with said spaces; and meansfo'r utilizing said sill and ridge members and said spaces in association with household utilities.

6. A building construction comprising a tubu-I lar sill member; wall and roof bents loosely suppor-ted on said sill member and extending to the ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge member loosely secured to said bents at the ridge of the house;- wall and roof `coverings secured to said y bents to enclose spaces between them,'there being openings in said sill and ridge members communicating with said spaces; and means for utilizing said sill and ridge members for ventilating purposes.

7. A building construction comprising two tubular sill members; wall and roof bents loosely supported on said sill members and extending to' rthe ridge of the frame; a tubular ridge member loosely secured to said bents at the ridgeof the house; wall and roof coverings secured to saidbents to enclose spaces between them, there being openings in said sill and ridge members communicating with said spaces; and means for utilizing said sill and ridge members and said spaces for Ventilating said house.

' JOHN L. McKEOWN. 

